Fever Shocks Aces in Game One of Semifinals
In a day marked by the celebration of A’ja Wilson’s fourth MVP award, the Indiana Fever silenced the Las Vegas Aces fans before the final buzzer. The number 6 team, Fever, defeated number 2, Aces, with a score of 89-73 in the first match of the best-of-five semifinal series. This victory meant the second defeat for the current champions in their last 20 games and took away their home-court advantage. Indiana, considered the underdog by 8.5 points according to the bets, achieved the biggest triumph in a semifinal series or later since 2017. The 16-point difference suffered by the Aces was the widest since their 53-point loss to the Lynx on August 2, a result that preceded their 17-game winning streak, a franchise record. This was also the Aces’ biggest home defeat in the playoffs since the second game of the 2021 semifinals and the largest in any playoff game since the third game of the 2022 finals.Kelsey Mitchell led the Fever with 34 points, the most in a WNBA semi-final debut and the second-highest in franchise playoff history.They played with a greater sense of urgency. We couldn’t keep up.
Becky Hammon, Aces coach
Indiana dominated the game from the start, setting the pace and outperforming the Aces in transition. In addition to Mitchell, Odyssey Sims (17 points) and Natasha Howard (12 points, 11 rebounds) also contributed significantly. Indiana had a 50% field goal percentage, while Las Vegas stayed at 41%.Clearly, we had no answer for Mitchell. He made every damn shot, it seemed… He had a hot night and we let him get hot.
Becky Hammon, Aces coach
Although the Aces got within three points in the third quarter, Indiana responded with a 13-0 run that sealed the victory. The Fever led for 33 minutes, including the entire second half. Indiana, which did not have Caitlin Clark or five other players due to injuries, has won three consecutive playoff games, including two in which it faced elimination in the first round and six of its last seven, continuing its unexpected postseason run.We wanted to come in and be the aggressors right away, making sure we dictated on defense and from a pace standpoint.
Stephanie White, Fever coach
Mitchell’s outstanding performance, which included a timely three-pointer at the end of the third quarter to put Indiana up by 14 points and secure the momentum heading into the final period, marked his most memorable performance in this brilliant postseason. His 104 points in these playoffs are the most in a four-game span in franchise playoff history.Our group was incredible. We were resilient. They went on a run at the end of the first quarter, and I think that was important for us because we didn’t fold.
Kelsey Mitchell
I’m just trying to keep it in basketball. I think what they see is that I’m just trying to be a kid on the playground, I guess.
Kelsey Mitchell
There have been many times this season where she has carried us on her shoulders and led us… She’s a very tough shooter.
Stephanie White, Fever coach
Despite the Aces struggling on defense, Wilson also had a night below her standards. Although she scored 12 points and 11 rebounds in the first half, she only made 6 of 22 field goals overall and scored only four points in the second half.
According to ESPN Tracking and GeniusIQ, Wilson went 2-of-11 against Indiana’s Aliyah Boston, Wilson’s worst field goal percentage against a defender in a playoff game in the last five seasons. Hammon considered her team to be “ultra, ultra stagnant” on offense, and although Wilson tends to bounce back well from bad games, “it depends on the rest of us to give her support.” The Aces’ next game will be in Game 2 on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. ET.
